Die-holding means



Nov. 1,77 1925. R. l.. WILCOX DIE HOLDING MEANS Filed oct. 31. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l R. L. wlLcox DIE HOLDING MEANS Nov. 17l 1925. 1,561,498

Filed 001'.. 3l. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l\ I Sl 1( V .B 'fnglfgorl- M R. L. WILCOX DIE HOLDING MEANS Filed Oct. 31. 1921 Nov. 17, 1925- 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD LESTER WILCOX, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 THE WATERBURY FARREL FOUNDRY ANI) MACHINE COMPANY, OF WATERBURY, CON- NECTICUT, A CORPORATION OjF CONNECTICUT.

DIE-HOLDING MEANS.

Application led October 31, 192.1.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD LESTER WIL- oox, Aa citizen of the United States, residing at Vaterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Die-Holding Means, of which the following is a. specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and improved die holding means, referring more particularly to means for holding the dies 1n a heading or upsetting machine. It is the object of the invention, among other things, to provide die holding means that may be readily adapted for y any type of header, suiiiciently light in weight and rigid in structure to withstandheavyA strains, conveniently and easilylmanipulated for the purpose of obtaining access to the dies, either for removal, adjustment or inspection thereof, so designed and constructed as to permit certain irregularities in the operation of the header without breakage or injury to any of the parts, wherein the use of the conventional die separating means `is entirely unnecessary; and the relative position of the die separating means being variable and not required in the cap or cover, as heretofore. Y Y

To these and other ends my invention consists in the die holding means having certain details of construction and combina.- tions of parts, as will be hereinafter de scribed and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals of reference designate like parts in the several figures;

Figure 1 is a plan view of one end of a heading machine with my improved mechanism connected therewith;

Figure 2 is a front view thereof, partly in section; i

Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof also partly in section;

Figure 4 is an elevation of a form of my invention wherein the die separating mechanism is under instead of over the dies as heretofore; and

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the die cap or co-verhaving an opening into which the blank projects, if carried by one of the punches.

Serial No. 511,807.

My invention has `particular reference to heading machines of the so-called open-die type, an illustration of which is disclosed in Letters Patent N o. 1,104,090, dated July 21, 1914, wherein, particularly in Figures 3 and 4f, is illustrated such dies and means for imparting lateral movement thereto. In such' type of header a continuous length of wire is advanced between the dies when opened at the wire feeding line, after which the dies are closed and moved laterally to a point wherein they register with the punches designated generally as the upsetting line. During this movement of t-he dies a short length of the wire, known as a` blank, is cut therefrom and so held between the dies that a portion thereof projects beyond the front end thereof. When in line with thepunches, the first punch upsets the projecting end of the wire and then punches are moved vertically bringing a Vsecond punch into line with the upset end of the wire which bfy its engagement therewith forms the finished head. In some instances three or more punches are utilized instead of two, depending upon the character of the work to be produced and the metal of which the Wire is composed.

With the die holding mechanism heretofore used the element that covered the dies over the upsetting line is so formed that ifv perchance the blank is withdrawn from between the dies by a punch and is retained therein during the next stroke of the punches, it is brought up against the end of suchelement in such manner as to usually break or damage some of the parts. Sometimes the punch breaks or is cracked but more frequently the mechanism over the dies is damaged or broken as a, result of the blow.

then the dies are moved transversely from the upsetting line to the wire feeding line they are opened slightly by, parting pins, die separators or the like, such as are shown in Figure 4 of the above Patent No. 1,104,090, or in Patent No. 1,108,958, dated September 1, 1914, which has heretofore been the only method devised for opening the dies. These pins are generally arranged in series so as to cover substantially the full length of the dies from front to rear. At least one of such pins or separators is located quite close to the front edge of the dies and the support therefor is thus in the path of movement of the blank so withdrawn with the punch and carried thereby as above described.

ln my invention as herein set forth l provide die holding` means, wherein that portion thereof above the dies, usually designated the cover, is entirely open, and a blank can be carried by a punch during its reciprocatory movement while another punch is in operation, without striking any of such die holding means, and hence causing injury or damage thereto, other means than the conventional parting pins or the like being provided for opening the dies at the wire line but the particular construction of which is now immaterial.

One form of such die separating means, being disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 511,802.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the frame or bed of the heading machine, having an opening or pocket 11 in one end thereof, to one wall of which I preferably secure a backing pla-te 12 by screws 13 orother means, and on the bottom wall a bed plate 14 by one or more screws 15 or othermeans. The upper end of the backing plate 12 is provided with a lug 16 for a purpose hereafter to be described.

The die cap or cover 17 is provided with ears 18-18 in each of which is an opening 19. Through these openings and lug 16 projects a pin 20, which is slightly less in diameter than said openings. This pin is held against lateral movement by a screw 21 which projects into an annular groove 22 in said pin. This mechanism will operate equally as well, if the pin is fitted into the opening 19 and free in the hole through the lug 16, in which case a screw 21 would be threaded Vthrough one or both of the ears 18. The

lower portion 60 of the die cap or cover in its down position fits between the faces 23 and 24, the latter being upon a side plate 25 that is held within the frame 10 by the hollow screws 26. Through each of the latter screws projects a spring pin 27 that is threaded into a slide28 movable in a recess 29 in the inner face of the side plate 25. Also, when in its down position the laterally projecting wings 30 thereon rest respectively upon the side plate 25 and the surface 31, at which time there is just suflicient space be-V tween the top face of the bed plate 14 and the lower face 32 of the die cap or cover to permit the dies 33 and 34 to operate therebetween.

The dies as shown, and as is usual, rest upon the plate 14 and at their rear ends contact with the lbacking plate 12. These parts, the plates 14 and 12, form two walls which relatively are at an angle to each other.

The clamps 35 secured to the frame 10 by the bolts 36, which pass through slots 37 provide means for rigidly securing the cap or cover in its down position. In Figure 2 the clamp upon the left is shown when in engagement with a wing 30 and holding the die cap or cover in its down position, while to the right of the figure the clamp is shown withdrawn so as to permit the die cap or cover to be moved upon its pivot mounting.

The rear face 38 0f the die cap or cover abuts against the front face of the backing plate 12 and is positively moved into this position when being moved downwardly by the engagement of the angular face 41 upon one of the wings 30 with the fixed plug 39, also having an angular cam face thereon, the difference in the diameter between the pin 20 and opening 19 permitting this action. This die cap or cover is released for movement into and out of its down position by manipulation of the bolts 36 and shifting the position of the clamps 35, and is always returned to its exact down position and rigidly held therein by a reverse movement. To assist movement of the die cap 0r cover I have mounted a rod 42 therein, which is held at opposite ends in the lugs 43. For construct-ion purposes it is more convenient to supply the rod 42, but in practice the same result will be obtained by having such element made integral with the cap. If the cover cannot be lifted manually, owing to its weight or for any other reason, it can be readily moved by a pinch bar inserted under the rod 42 with its free end against the lug 16. While this cap or cover is illustrated as hinged, obviously it may be mounted to slide ifdesired or be lifted in its entirety out of the machine.

Directly over the upsetting line, herein designated by the reference numeral 44, there is a recess 45 in the die cap or cover 17, the bottom thereof at its front end being but a limited distance above the lower face 32, from which point it broadens as it approaches the top of the cover, the bottom 46 thereof extending rearwardly and upwardly as shown in Figure 3. This recess provides an open space of considerable width and depth in the cover directly in the upsetting line.

The dies at their inner ends abut against an anvil 47. They are held against outward movement by the retaining plates 48 and 49, the former being secured to the bed plate 14, and projecting upwardly over the front face of the die 34 and the latter secured to the die cap or cover 17 and projecting downwardly over thefront end of the die 33, screws 50 or other means being provided for this purpose.

By the use of the retaining plates 48 and 49 the dies are always held against outward movement but may be readily removed from the bed plate 14 whenever the cap or cover 17 is moved upwardly, at which time the retaining plate 49 is away from the die 33 leemos and no barrier is presented against its forward movement on the bed plate 14. After this die is moved it is a comparatively simple task to slide the die 34 laterallyjand forwardly in substantially the same manner.

The dies are moved from the position wherein they are in register with the wire feedingv line to the upsettingr line in a well known manner through movement of a plunger 52, gripper block 53 which is in Contact with the filler block 54 having a recess in its lower outer edge. A stop plate 55 secured to the bed plate 14 projects above the top thereof and is engaged by the face 56' of the recess in the filler block 54 (see Figure 2).

As shown, the cap or cover 17 is in its down position with the dies in register with the wire feeding line, a portion of the wire designated being shown therebetween and by broken lines in its open or up position in Figure 3. After the wire has been fed its predetermined distance the plunger 52 causes the dies 34 and 33 to move laterally, at which time the projecting end of the wire is cut from the wire length, so that the same may register with the upsetting line 44, this movement of the dies being resisted by the spring pins 27 in a well known manner.

Thereafter the punch 58 is moved forwardly so that it engages the projecting end of the wire 57, upsettingr it in the usual manner. The punch is then withdrawn and moved vertically and the second punch 59 is in register with the upsetting line, and by its engagement with the blank completes the formation of the head thereon after which the punch is withdrawn and the blank jected and the operations repeated as beore. v l

If perchance, the first punch 58 (or any punch other than the first or last in a three or more blow header) in its operation should pull the blank out of the dies when being withdrawn after the upsetting blow, it, the blank, will move again with the punch at its next forward movement, in which case the inner end thereof will be projected into the recess 45 without injuring any of the mechanisms connected with the die holding means, a desirable object not heretofore obtained. 'If the blank is a comparatively long one, the outer end thereof strikes the inclined bottom 46 and is thereby curled outwardly without injury to the cap or cover.

If desired, the angle of inclination of the bottom 46 of the recess 45 may be varied so that the end of the blank may by engaging its angular face be stripped from the punch and slide out of the recesses into any convenient receptacle arranged to receive it irrespective of the length of the blank, or the bottom of the recess may be entirely Hat, but below the path of movement of the blank, as above recited. As shown in Figure 5, this opening extends through the cap or cover from fron-t to rear, but this is not essential as it may only extend back from the front a limited distance, if desired.

The details ofthe mechanism for separating the dies is not essential to an understand ing of this invention, but I have shown, however, one form thereof which may be in part connected with the cap or cover as shown in Figures l and 3 or with the bed plate as shown in Figure 4. Such mechanism as shown comprises a fixed cam plate 61, a roll 62 that travels with the dies, and means, as a guard 63, to prevent displacement of said roll. As the roll 62 is moved with the dies against the cam face 64 of the cam plate 6l, the dies are separated. During the reverse movement, the roll 62 is moved away from the cam face and the opening between the dies is closed by the die 34 being brought up against the die 33 after which time they move as a unit. l

lVliile only two punches are required in a two blow header, such as shown and described herein, my improvements are equally adapted for use with a header having three, four or more blows, wherein there `are punches corresponding in number with the blows, in which case the blank may be improperly withdrawn by a punch other than `the rst one.

It is obvious that the form and structure of my invention may be materially changed inits details aside from those above sug gested, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and de` scribed, but claim all that falls fairly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l.. In a die holding means for a plural punch header; dies; a support for the dies; and a die cap or cover therefor having a recess therein open at its front end and opposite one of said punches when the same is above the upsetting line of the die.

2. In a die holding means for a plural punch header; dies; a support for the dies; and a die cap or cover therefor having a recess therein open at its front end and opposite one of said punches when the same is above the upsetting line of the die, said rel cess having an inclined bottom.

3. In a die holding means for a plural punch header; dies; a support for the dies; and a die cap or cover therefor having a recess therein open at its front end and opposite one of said punches when the same is above the upsetting line of the die, the bottom of said recess being nearest to said dies adjacent to the front end thereof.

4. In a die holding means for a plural punch header; dies; a support for the dies; a die cap or cover therefor having a recess therein open at its front end and opposite one of said punches when the same is above the upsetting line of the die; and clamp means for holding 'said cap or cover in its down position.

5. In a die holding means; a support for the dies; and a die cap or cover therefor having a recess therein adjacent to the upsetting line of the dies; the bottom of said rccess extending substantially to a point at approximately the top of said die cap or'cover at one end and to a point adjacent to the bottom of said die cap or cover at the opposite end.

6. In a die holding means for a plural punch header; dies; a support for the dies; a die cap or cover therefor having a recess therein open at its front end and opposite one of said punches when the same is above the upsetting line of the die; and clamp means for holding said cap or cover in its down position; connected with parts adjacent to said cap or cover and shifted out of the path of movement thereof while the saine is being opened or closed.

7. In a die holdingl means; a structure having two walls at an angle to each other; a die cap or cover held with one face thereof substantially parallel with one of said walls and another face against the second of said walls; and means independent of the cap or cover for insuring the Contact of both of said latter faces when said die cap or cover is in its closed position.

8. In a die holding means; a structure having two walls at an angle to each other; a die cap or cover held with one face thereof substantially7 parallel with one of said walls and another face against the second of said walls; and means for insuring the contact of both of said latter faces when said die cap or cover is in its closed position, comprising cam faces which separably engage each other when said die cap or cover is in substantially its closed position.

9. In a die holding means; Va structure having two walls at an angle to each other; dies movably connected therewith; a die cap or cover; and means for mounting the die cap or cover upon an adjacent part whereby it will automatically adjust its position relatively to one of said walls to accommodate dies of various sizes.

10. The combination with die supporting means; of dies; separating means for opening the dies; tools movable toward and away fromthe dies; and a cap or cover for holding said dies in proper relation to said supporting` means, said cap or cover being open in the path of movement of a blank traveling with any of said tools above said dies.

ll. The combination with die supporting means; of dies; separating means for opening the dies; tools movable toward and away7 from the dies; and a cap or cover for holding said dies in proper relation to said supporting means; said cap or cover being open in the path of movement of a blank traveling with any of said tools above and the dies, said separating means being independent of said cap or cover.

l2. The combination with die supporting means; 'of dies; separating means for o-pening the dies; tools movable toward and away from the dies; and a cap or cover for holding said dies in proper relation to said supporting means, said separating means being independent of said cap or cover.

The combination with die supporting means; of dies; separating means for opening the dies; tools movable toward and away from the dies; and a cap or cover for holding said dies in proper relation to said supporting means, said cap or cover being open in the path of movement of a blank traveling with any of said tools above-said dies,l said separating means being upon that side of the dies o-pposite to the cap or cover.

In testimony whereof; I have hereunto affixed my signature. f

RICHARD LE STER VILCOX. 

